Scraper-chain conveyors

ABSTRACT

A scraper-chain conveyor for use in mineral mining installations, and composed of individual channel sections joined end to end. Each channel section is composed of sigma-shaped side members adjoined by a conveyor bottom wall and defines upper and lower guide paths for the working and return chains runs of the conveyor. Some of the channel sections are superstandard and of selective reinforced construction in relation to the remaining standard sections. Such reinforcement is such that the guide paths of the standard and superstandard sections are substantially in alignment with one another to provide unhindered travel for the chain runs.

Oskar Kohler Lunen-Sud; Wulif Rosier, Westfalia, both of Germany 866,657 Oct. 15, 1969 Nov. 2, 1971 Gewerkschait Eisenhutte Westfalia Westialia, Germany Sept. 1, 1966 Germany G 48005; July 20, 1967, Belgium, No. 701,672; Aug. 22, 1967, France, No. 1,550,172; Aug. 1,

1 967, Great Britain, No. 35216/67 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 666,575, Sept. 11, 1967, now abandoned.

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priorities SCRAPER-CHAIN CONVEYORS [50] Field of Search 299/32, 39, 34, 43; 61/45 D; 198/168, 204

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,590,802 3/1952 Tramblay 198/168 3,300,031 l/1967 Dommann et al 198/204 3,482,878 12/1969 Floter 61/45 D FOREIGN PATENTS 1,l78,778 9/1964 Germany 198/204 Primary Examiner-Ernest R, Purser Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak ABSTRACT: A scraper-chain conveyor for use in mineral mining installations, and composed of individual channel sections joined end to end. Each channel section is composed of sigma-shaped side members adjoined by a conveyor bottom wall and defines upper and lower guide paths for the working and return chains runs of the conveyor. Some of the channel 8 Claims 3 Drawing Figs sections are superstandard and of selective reinforced con- U.S. Cl 299/43, struction in relation to the remaining standard sections. Such 61/45 D, 198/168, 198/204, 299/32 reinforcement is such that the guide paths of the standard and lnt.Cl ..E2lc 29/02, superstandard sections are substantially in alignment with one 865g 19/28 another to provide unhindered travel for the chain runs.

ll we 36 1 3 PATENTEDNU 2 3 6 l 7. O9 2 SHEET 2 [1F 2 FIG. 2. 13

SCRAPER-CI'IAIN CONVEYORS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part in respect of US. Pat. application Ser. No. 666,575 filed Sept. 11, 1967 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Scrapepchain conveyors have become well established in longwall coal mining galleries, and also sometimes in roadway conveyors. Such conveyors are usually composed of identical channel sections formed end to end. In longwall galleries these conveyors serve to guide a coal winning machine, such as a coal plough or a hewing machine, and also to convey the coal detached from a coal face. There are also cases where both a coal plough and a hewing machine are to be guided by a single conveyor. The guidance of the winning machines, which can weigh up to 17 tons, on the upper flanges of the side members of the channels of the conveyor subject the members to very high loads. Moreover, shifting rams are usually attached to the goaf side of the conveyor, i.e., the side remote from the coal face to urge the conveyor towards the face thereby to follow the progress of coal winning and cause the, or each winning machine to cut into the face during its passage along the face. These rams naturally also lead to considerable stresses being imparted to the conveyor. These stresses are naturally increased where conditions are difficult such as where the mine floor is uneven or slopes at a steep gradient.

The conveying of coal is usually concentrated at a few working stations. This has the result that the conveyors provided at these working stations must achieve a high-conveying performance and be capable of handling the high stresses due to the guiding of the winning machine and due to the associated shifting operation of the rams.

Because of the importance of conveyors any stoppage for repair, such as replacement of individual channels or the like, has a significant economic effect in the case of these higher working concentrations.

It is thus expedient to make the conveyor sections sufficiently strong and resistant to wear and stresses that the conveyor is unlikely to cause interruptions of work. The demands made upon conveyors necessitate increasingly stronger constructions but limits are set by the nature of the prevailing conditions. More particularly, the weight of the individual conveyor sections should not be too high, otherwise transport in the cramped mining galleries will prove too difficult and moreover the shifting rams will be unnecessarily loaded in advancing such heavy sections. Thus, the dimensions, especially the wall thicknesses of conveyor sections cannot be enlarged at will. Moreover, the conveyor, as the backbone of the entire longwall equipment, serves to carry various accessories which are normally adapted to the standard dimensions of the conveyor channels. Thus, if a complete strengthened conveyor were to be constructed it would have completely different dimensions. This conveyor would not, therefore, be capable of accepting the conventional accessories employed hitherto and would not therefore form a replacement for a conventional conveyor. Instead, it would be necessary for the entire longwall gallery equipment to be renewed and this would be too great a financial expense to be practicable.

An object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF TI-IE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a scraper-chain conveyor composed of channel sections joined end to end, each of which channel sections has two generally sigma-shaped side members with three inwardly directed flanges and an outwardly open generally V-shaped groove disposed opposite the central flange, the side members being joined together by a conveyor bottom connected to the central flanges of the side members, a working chain run of the conveyor being guided in upper guide paths each formed between an upper flange and the central flange of each channel and a return chain run of the conveyor being guided in lower guide paths each formed between a lower flange and the central flange of each channel section wherein at least one of the channel sections is superstandard and has at least one por tion of each of its two side members reinforced and of greater thickness than the corresponding portion of each of the remaining standard channel sections, the superstandard section being adjoined at its ends by standard channel sections the arrangement being such that each of the guide paths defined by the superstandard channel section is of substantially the same shape and width as the corresponding guide path of each of the adjoining standard channel sections with the upper guide path of said superstandard section being slightly offset in relation to the upper guide path of each of said two adjoining standard channel sections with a region of said reinforced portion of the said superstandard section at, or near, its central flanges projecting upwardly into its upper guide path.

According to another aspect of the invention there is pro vided a mineral-mining installation comprising a scraper-chain conveyor composed of channel sections joined end to each, each of said channel sections having two generally sigmashaped side members with three inwardly directed flanges and an outwardly open generally V-shaped groove disposed opposite said central flange, said flanges of each side member being composed of an upper flange, a central flange and a lower flange, the side members being joined together by a conveyor bottom wall connected to the central flanges of the side members, a working chain run of said conveyor which is guided in upper guide paths each formed between the upper and central flanges of each channel section, and a return chain run of said conveyor which is guided in lower guide paths each formed between the lower and central flanges of each channel section some of the channel sections being superstandard with at least one portion of each of their side members being reinforced and of greater thickness than the corresponding portion of each of the remaining standard channel sections, each superstandard section being adjoined at its ends by standard sections, and arranged so that each of the upper and lower guide paths defined by said superstandard channel section is of substantially the same shape and width as the corresponding guide path of each of the adjoining standard sections with a region of said reinforced portion at or near, its central flanges projecting upwardly into its upper guide path; said installation further comprising a winning machine guided for movement along the side members of said conveyor disposed at one side thereof and shifting rams for shifting said conveyor in the direction of the winning machine, each shifting ram being operatively connected to the side member of one of said superstandard channel sections at the other side of the conveyor.

The superstandard channel section preferably has a conveyor bottom of greater thickness than that of a standard channel section with said thickened bottom projecting upwardly into its upper guide path.

According to a further feature of the invention the V- shaped groove of each side member of the superstandard channel section is aligned with the V-shaped grooves of the side members of the adjoining standard sections, the side members of the superstandard section having vertical sidewall portions of increased thickness relative to corresponding vertical sidewall portions of the adjoining standard sections with inner vertical surfaces of said wall portions of the superstandard section and adjoining standard sections being substantially in alignment and outer vertical surfaces of said wall portions of the superstandard section being outwardly offset rela' tive to the corresponding surfaces of the adjoining standard sections.

Preferably each side member of the superstandard channel section has its flanges of increased thickness relative to that of one of the adjoining standard channel sections, the increase in the thickness of the central flange being greater than the increase in thickness of the upper or lower flanges. This is advantageous since the highest stresses to the side members generally occur at its central flange. The superstandard section also preferably has its upper and lower flanges of different length.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment there is a slight steplike shoulder formed at the junctions between the bottoms of the superstandard and standard sections.

It is certainly a surprising discovery that certain differences in height at the level of the conveyor bottom and of the upper flanges of the side members cause no difficulties if only the shape and width of the guide paths for the scraper chains in the working run and in the return run are preserved.

A superstandard conveyor section may be formed so that it possesses a nonreinforced side member on the goaf side and a reinforced side member on the coal face side. A conveyor with such superstandard sections could be of particular value for the guidance of a heavy hewing machine, but in general if only for ease of production it is preferably for the superstandard sections to have both side members reinforced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a mining installation made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail A of the conveyor of FIG. 1 which shows the ends of two adjacent channel sections; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line IIIIIl of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The coal mining installation depicted in FIG. 1 has a longwall conveyor, generally designated 100 disposed along a coal face 101 in known manner. The conveyor 100 is composed of individual channel sections joined end to end. Some or all of the sections may be articulated to one another. A winning machine 102 is disposed on the coal face side of the conveyor 100. The machine 102 is guided for movement back and forth along the conveyor 106 to win coal from the face 101 in known manner. The conveyor has scraper elements 110 circulated in upper and lower guide paths by chains in known manner.

The channel sections of the conveyor 100 are all of similar formation but are made up of standard sections and special superstandard sections 11. In this illustration each superstandard section 11 is operably connected on its goaf side to a pair of shifting rams 103 also in turn connected to a movable support assembly 104. Each assembly 104 has two relatively movable frame units 105 each composed ofa plurality, in this case, two telescopic props 106 disposed between a roof support bar 107 and a floor rail 108. A further shifting ram 109 is disposed between the units 105 of each assembly 104 to cause movement of the units 105 in a successive fashion to advance the assembly 104 towards the conveyor 100. The rams 103 can be operated to move the conveyor 100 towards the face 101 and to brace the conveyor 100 via the superstandard sections 11 during the passage of the machine 102.

The two types of channel section, 10 and 11 have a fundamentally similar construction and are adapted to be connected with one another. In FIG. 2 two adjacent sections 10, 11 are shown in a separated condition for the sake of clarity. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 each section 10, 11 has two generally sigma-shaped side members 12, 13 joined together by a conveyor bottom 14, respectively. The channel sections 10 and 11 are joined with the ends of their side members 12 and 13 in abutment with one another, while the conveyor bottoms 14, 15 overlap one another for a short distance and are welded together.

In a conventional scraper-chain conveyor the side members 12 of all the channel sections have approximately the same shape and wall thickness.

In contrast, the sections 11 are reinforced as may be seen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 depicts the side members l2, 13 of the channel sections 10, 11 which are facing the coal face 101 however it is to be understood that in this embodiment the side members 12, 13 remote from the coal face 101 are constructed and arranged in a similar manner.

In FIG. 3, the standard section 10 has a normal or standard dimensional side member 12 with inwardly directed flanges 16, 17 and 20 also of normal or standard dimensions. The bottom wall 14 of the channel 10 is attached to the central flange 20 in known manner as by welding. The reinforced or superstandard section 11 has a generally thickened side member 13 with inwardly directed flanges 30, 18 and 31. The bottom wall 15 of the channel 11 is attached to the central flange 20 again in a known manner.

The lower flange 31 of the side member 13 is increased slightly in relation to the lower flange 16 of the side member 12 and the upper flange 30 of the side member 13 is also thickened in relation to the lower flange 16 of the member 12 by about the same amount. Whereas the outermost surfaces 32, 33 of the flanges 16, 31 are substantially in alignment the outermost surface 34 of the flange 30 is disposed above the upper surface 35 of the flange 17. Likewise the outer side surface 29 of the member 13 is laterally offset outwardly of the outer side surface 36 of the member 12. The innermost surfaces 37, 38 ofthe flanges 16, 31 are substantially in alignment with one another and in contrast the innermost surface 39 of the flange 30 is disposed above the innermost surface 40 of the flange 17. The central flange 18 of the member 13 to which the somewhat thickened bottom wall 15 is attached, is reinforced to a greater extent than the reinforcement of the flanges 31, 30. The colinear uppennost surfaces 41 of the bottom wall 15 and the flange 18 are disposed somewhat above the corresponding uppermost surfaces 42 of the bottom wall 14 and the flange 20. In contrast, the lowermost offset surfaces 43, 44 of the bottom wall 15 and the flange 18 are sub stantially in alignment with the corresponding lowermost surfaces 45,46 of the bottom wall 14 and the flange 20. The portions 47, 48 and 49,50 of the members 12, 13 are aligned with one another.

Despite the reinforcement of the side member 13 the upper and lower guide paths 78 and 79 defined by the superstandard section 11 for the circulating scraper-chain arrangement retain their shape and their width almost exactly in relation to the corresponding guide paths defined by the standard section 10. The upper guide path 78 of the section 11 lies only slightly higher than that defined by the standard section 10. In the lower run the path 79 almost exactly matches the path defined. Therefore, as may be clearly seen from FIG. 3, in the transition from the superstandard channel section 11 to the standard channel section 10, a steplike shoulder is produced both on the central flanges 18, 20 and the bottom walls 14, 15 and also at the upper flanges 17, 30. However these shoulders are not detrimental either to the circulation of the scraperchain arrangement nor to the guidance of the winning machine 110 on the upper flanges 17, 30 of the side members 12, 13.

The vertical portions of the reinforced side members 13 are reinforced only towards the outer side, as indicated by the numeral 80 in FIG. 3. The internal width between the two side members 12, 13 of the sections l0 11 is not reduced, so that the circulation of the scraper-chain arrangement is not impaired. The slight prominence or recession of the vertical portions at the junction between successive standard and superstandard channel sections does not impair the guidance of the machine 102 on the coal face side of the conveyor 100. Neither is the attachment of other accessories on the goaf side of the conveyor impaired or rendered difficult. Indeed the shifting rams 109 can be advantageously attached to the superstandard sections 11 in known manner and these sections 11 are more able to cope with the extra stresses imparted thereto.

The V-shaped grooves 21 on the outer side of the members 12, 13 are virtually in alignment and generally, coupling bolts for the connection of the successive channel sections can be arranged in these grooves 21; these bolts are not shown in the drawings.

We claim:

1. In a scraper-chain conveyor composed of channel sections joined end to end, each of which channel sections has two generally sigma-shaped, oppositely disposed side members with three inwardly directed flanges and an outwardly open, generally V-shaped groove disposed opposite the central flange, the side members of each channel section being joined together by a conveyor bottom connected to the central flanges of the side members, a working chain run of the conveyor being guided in upper guide paths each formed between an upper flange and the central flange of each channel section and a return chain run of the conveyor being guided in lower guide paths each formed between a lower flange and the central flange of each channel section; the im provements comprising: at least one of the channel sections being superstandard, the superstandard channel section having a general configuration and longitudinal dimension identical to that of the standard channel sections with selected portions of each of its two side members reinforced along the entire length of the side member and of constant thickness greater than the corresponding portions of the standard channel sections, the conveyor bottom being reinforced along its entire length and of constant thickness greater than that of the standard channel sections, the superstandard channel section being joined at its ends to standard channel sections so that each of the guide paths defined by the superstandard channel section is of substantially the same shape and width as the corresponding guide path of each of the adjoining standard channel sections but with the upper guide path of said superstandard channel section being slightly offset in relation to the upper guide path of each of the adjoining standard channel "sections by virtue of the conveyor bottom of the superstandard section and regions of said reinforced portions of the superstandard section at, or near, its central flanges projecting into the upper guide path.

2. A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of superstandard channel sections are provided, each superstandard channel section being disposed between and connected to two standard channel sections.

3. A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the V-shaped groove in each side member of the superstandard channel section is aligned with the V-shaped grooves of the side members of the adjoining standard channel sections, the side members of the superstandard section having vertical sidewall portions of increased thickness relative to corresponding vertical sidewall portions of the adjoining standard sections with inner vertical surfaces of said wall portions of the superstandard section and adjoining standard sections being substantially in alignment and outer vertical surfaces of said wall portions of the superstandard section being outwardly offset relative to the corresponding surfaces of the adjoining standard sections.

4. A conveyor according to claim 1, in which the three flanges of each side member of superstandard channel section are of increased thickness relative to that of one of the adjoining standard channel sections, the increase in the thickness of the central flanges being greater than the increase in thickness of the upper or lower flanges.

5. A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower flanges of the superstandard channel section have different lengths.

6. A mineral mining installation comprising a scraper-chain conveyor composed of channel sections joined end to end, each of the channel sections having two generally sigmashaped, oppositely disposed side members with three inwardly directed flanges and an outwardly open, generally V-shaped groove disposed opposite the central flange, the side members of each channel section being joined together by a conveyor bottom connected to the central flanges of the side members,

a working chain run of the conveyor being guided in upper guide paths each formed between an upper flange and the central flange of each channel section and a return chain run of the conveyor being guided in lower guide paths each formed between a lower flange and the central flange of each channel section; some of the channel sections being superstandard, each superstandard channel section being disposed between and joined to two standard channel sections, each of the superstandard sections having the same general configuration and longitudinal dimension as the standard sections but with a conveyor bottom and selected portions of each of its two side members reinforced along the length of the section and of constant thickness greater than the corresponding parts of the standard channel sections, each of the guide paths defined by each of the superstandard channel sections being substantially the same width and shape as the corresponding guide paths defined by the standard channel sections but with the upper guide path of each superstandard section being slightly offset in relation to the upper guide path of each of the adjoining standard channel sections by virtue of the conveyor bottom of the superstandard channel section and regions of said reinforced portions of the superstandard channel section at, or near, its central flange projecting into the upper guide path, the installation further comprising a mineral winning machine guided for movement along the side members of the conveyor at one side thereof and shifting rams for shifting said conveyor in the direction of said one side, each shifting ram being operably connected to the side member of one of said superstandard channel sections at the other side of the conveyor.

7. An installation according to claim 6, wherein the V- shaped groove in each side member of the superstandard channel section is aligned with the V-shaped grooves of the side members of the adjoining standard channel sections, the side members of the superstandard section having vertical sidewall portions of increased thickness relative to corresponding vertical sidewall portions of the adjoining standard sections with inner vertical surfaces of said wall portions of the superstandard section and adjoining standard sections being substantially in alignment and outer vertical surfaces of said wall portions of the superstandard section being outwardly offset relative to the corresponding surfaces of the adjoining standard sections.

8. An installation according to claim 6, wherein the three flanges of each side member of the superstandard channel section are of increased thickness relative to that of one of the adjoining standard channel sections, the increase in the thickness of the central flange being greater than the increase in thickness of the upper or lower flanges. 

1. In a scraper-chain conveyor composed of channel sections joined end to end, each of which channel sections has two generally sigma-shaped, oppositely disposed side members with three inwardly directed flanges and an outwardly open, generally V-shaped groove disposed opposite the central flange, the side members of each channel section being joined together by a conveyor bottom connected to the central flanges of the side members, a working chain run of the conveyor being guided in upper guide paths each formed between an upper flange and the central flange of each channel section and a return chain run of the conveyor being guided in lower guide paths each formed between a lower flange and the central flange of each channel section; the improvements comprising: at least one of the channel sections being superstandard, the superstandard channel section having a general configuration and longitudinal dimension identical to that of the standard channel sections with selected portions of each of its two side members reinforced along the entire length of the side member and of constant thickness greater than the corresponding portions of the standard channel sections, the conveyor bottom being reinforced along its entire length and of constant thickness greater than that of the standard channel sections, the superstandard channel section being joined at its ends to standard channel sections so that each of the guide paths defined by the superstandard channel section is of substantially the same shape and width as the corresponding guide path of each of the adjoining standard channel sections but with the upper guide path of said superstandard channel section being slightly offset in relation to the upper guide path of each of the adjoining standard channel sections by virtue of the conveyor bottom of the superstandard section and regions of said reinforced portions of the superstandard section at, or near, its central flanges projecting into the upper guide path.
 2. A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of superstandard channel sections are provided, each superstandard channel section being disposed between and connected to two standard channel sections.
 3. A conveYor according to claim 1, wherein the V-shaped groove in each side member of the superstandard channel section is aligned with the V-shaped grooves of the side members of the adjoining standard channel sections, the side members of the superstandard section having vertical sidewall portions of increased thickness relative to corresponding vertical sidewall portions of the adjoining standard sections with inner vertical surfaces of said wall portions of the superstandard section and adjoining standard sections being substantially in alignment and outer vertical surfaces of said wall portions of the superstandard section being outwardly offset relative to the corresponding surfaces of the adjoining standard sections.
 4. A conveyor according to claim 1, in which the three flanges of each side member of superstandard channel section are of increased thickness relative to that of one of the adjoining standard channel sections, the increase in the thickness of the central flanges being greater than the increase in thickness of the upper or lower flanges.
 5. A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower flanges of the superstandard channel section have different lengths.
 6. A mineral mining installation comprising a scraper-chain conveyor composed of channel sections joined end to end, each of the channel sections having two generally sigma-shaped, oppositely disposed side members with three inwardly directed flanges and an outwardly open, generally V-shaped groove disposed opposite the central flange, the side members of each channel section being joined together by a conveyor bottom connected to the central flanges of the side members, a working chain run of the conveyor being guided in upper guide paths each formed between an upper flange and the central flange of each channel section and a return chain run of the conveyor being guided in lower guide paths each formed between a lower flange and the central flange of each channel section; some of the channel sections being superstandard, each superstandard channel section being disposed between and joined to two standard channel sections, each of the superstandard sections having the same general configuration and longitudinal dimension as the standard sections but with a conveyor bottom and selected portions of each of its two side members reinforced along the length of the section and of constant thickness greater than the corresponding parts of the standard channel sections, each of the guide paths defined by each of the superstandard channel sections being substantially the same width and shape as the corresponding guide paths defined by the standard channel sections but with the upper guide path of each superstandard section being slightly offset in relation to the upper guide path of each of the adjoining standard channel sections by virtue of the conveyor bottom of the superstandard channel section and regions of said reinforced portions of the superstandard channel section at, or near, its central flange projecting into the upper guide path, the installation further comprising a mineral winning machine guided for movement along the side members of the conveyor at one side thereof and shifting rams for shifting said conveyor in the direction of said one side, each shifting ram being operably connected to the side member of one of said superstandard channel sections at the other side of the conveyor.
 7. An installation according to claim 6, wherein the V-shaped groove in each side member of the superstandard channel section is aligned with the V-shaped grooves of the side members of the adjoining standard channel sections, the side members of the superstandard section having vertical sidewall portions of increased thickness relative to corresponding vertical sidewall portions of the adjoining standard sections with inner vertical surfaces of said wall portions of the superstandard section and adjoining standard sections being substantially in alignment and outer vertical surfaces of said wall pOrtions of the superstandard section being outwardly offset relative to the corresponding surfaces of the adjoining standard sections.
 8. An installation according to claim 6, wherein the three flanges of each side member of the superstandard channel section are of increased thickness relative to that of one of the adjoining standard channel sections, the increase in the thickness of the central flange being greater than the increase in thickness of the upper or lower flanges. 